Control device



a. A. BQOECKK ETAL CONTROL DEVICE ,Aug. 16, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1947 6.14. BOECK 'WENTORS EDSON J. HOWARD 9 Z/ac ma/ A ATTORNEY Aug. 16, 1949. G. A. BOECK ETAL 2,479,465

' CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan/4, 1947 1 4 Sheets-Sheet z Aug. 16, 1949. gs. A. BOECK ETAL 2,479,465-

CONTROL DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 4, 1947 l WWW WW GABOECK v awn/r095 5050A; JHOWARD A T TORNE V f atented Aug. 16, 1949 CONTROL DEVICE Gunther A. Boeck, Mountain Lakes, N. J., and Edson J. Howard, Flushing, N. Y., assignors to Bell Telephone Laboratories,

Incorporated,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 4, 1947, Serial No. 720,222

This invention relates to control devices and more particularly to control devices operable to control a plurality of rotatable members such for instance as the rotor shafts of a plurality of variable electrical devices.

An object of the invention is to provide: an improved control apparatus by means of which a plurality of rotatable shafts may be differently affected and in accordance with a required program by selecting and operating a control member.

A feature of the invention resides in a mechanical drive forming a power transmitting means between rotatable shafts.

Another feature resides in a releasable detent means.

Another feature resides in a planetary gear means.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, of a control apparatus embodying the invention and shows the front of a casing-type body;

Fig. 2 is a view, in perspective, taken from the rear of Fig. 1 and with a back cover plate of the casing-type body removed from the body;

Fig. 3 is a view, in perspective, of a planet gear means forming part of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows the body of the control device with certain parts mounted therein and certain other }parts of the control device exploded out of the Fig. 5 is a view, in perspective, of the control device and shows the back of the control device;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, in reduced scale, of the control device minus the back cover plate and shows parts mounted in the body;

Fig. '7 is a view, partly in section, of the control device and taken on the line l--'l in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section, of the control device and taken on the line 88 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of the control device equipped with manually operable knobs and arranged to control the rotors of a plurality of variable electrical air condensers.

In apparatus involving a plurality of rotatable members required to be rotated to different extents to condition the apparatus for certain requirements it is common practice to provide a separate means for facilitating the rotation of each rotatable member required to be rotated.

In such cases several operations are required to condition the apparatus to meet the requirements since each rotatable member must be separately operated. To reduce the number of operations required to rotate a plurality of rotatable members 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-4052) the rotatable members are in some cases arranged for operation by means of a single rotatable shaft common to the plurality of rotatable members, mechanical drives being provided between the single shaft and the rotatable members. When the single shaft is rotated all of the rotatable members in mechanical driving connection therewith are rotated. In some cases the structures and arrangements of the various parts are such that the rotatable members are rotated in different ratios of movement, the ratios of movement are fixed, however, and the same ratios prevail under all rotative movements applied to the parts.

In the present invention the control device may be operated to cause a plurality of rotatable shafts to be operated at different ratios or affected in different manners by suitable selection and operation of a rotatable member in the control device.

In the showing of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9, for instance, two control knobs may be operated to cause three rotatable shafts to be turned at different ratios or affected in different manners, depending on which control knob is turned.

As shown in Fig. 1 the control device [0 comprises a casing type body ll having an apertured front wall 12 and an apertured rear cover plate l3. Extending through the front wall l2 andthe rear cover plate l3 are rotatable shafts l4 and 15 which as shown in Fig. 9 may be equipped with turnable knobs I5 and 11, respectively, .to facilitate rotation of the shafts l4 and 15. As shown in Fig. 2 apertures I8 and H! are formed in the cover plate [3 to accommodate the shafts I4 and [5, respectively.

Detent means 20 and 2|, shown in Fig. 1, are provided to normally hold the shafts l4 and [5, respectively in required adjusted positions and aid an operator in rotating the shafts l4 and IS in definite required step-by-step rotational movements. The detent means 20 comprises a set of spaced studs 22 and a latch means 23 having a slidable member 24 operable to selectively engage the studs 22. The studs 22 are arcuately arranged and mounted on a cup-type support 25 arranged outside the body I I and extend normal to thefront face of the body II. The slidable member 24 is frame-like in form and is slidably supported in a mounting 26 which is channel-shaped in cross-section and has an apertured boss portion 27 extending. from a block portion 28 formed on a base .wall 29 of the mounting 26. The apertured bossportion 21 is apertured to accommodate the shaft l4 and is secured to the shaft M by a set screw or other suitable securing means, not shown. A retainer bar 30 secured by suitable securing means 3| to the block portion 28 of the mounting 26 extends in overlapping relation with side walls 32 32 of the slidable member 24 to retain the slidable member 24 in the mounting 26. Integral with the block portion 28 and extending from the boss portion 21 to one end of the mounting 26 is a hollow cylindrical portion 33 in the bore of which is enclosed a helical spring 34 providing a pressure member for a plunger 35 one end of which bears against the inner edge of an end wall 36 of the slidable member 24, the other end of the plunger 35 being in engagement with an outer end of the helical spring 34. The outer end portion of the end wall '36 of the slidable member 24 is tapered in form and the outer end is recessed and cut through at the base of the recess as shown at 31 to fit partly around a stud 22. The function of the helical spring 34 and the plunger 35 is to constantly urge the slidable member 24 lengthwise of the mounting 26. When the shaft I4 is rotating relative to the cuptype support 25 and the outer end 36 of the slidable member 24 comes into engagement with a stud 22 the slidable member 24 is pressed inwardly toward the shaft l4 and against the action of the spring 34 by reason of the engagement of the outer end 36 with a stud 22. inward pressure is continued until the recess 31 comes into register with the stud 22 at which point the stud 22 fits into the recess 31 and has a tendency to stop rotation of the shaft |4. Since the outer end 36 of the slidable member 24 is cut through at the base of the recess as shown at 31 the outer end 36 comprises two half portions separated by an opening. The two half portions may be slightly sprung apart. The slidable member 24 and the engaged stud 22 cooperate to tightly latch the shaft l4 against free movement and operate as a detent for the shaft l4. As the recess in the-outer end 36 comes into register with a stud the pressure of the slidable member 24 against stud 22 forces the two halves of member 24 apart until all clearances against mounting '26 are eliminated. The detent means 2| for the shaft I is constructed somewhat along the general lines of the detent means 20 but does not have the cup-type body 25. A releasable holding means 38 is provided to hold the slidable member 24 from engagement with the studs 39 at required times when free rotation of the shaft I5 is required. The studs 39 correspond in general to the studs 22 but are mounted in spaced relation on a generally semicircular boss 40 on the outer face of the body H. The detent-means '26 and 2| and their particular manners of operation will be subsequently more fully explained.

In addition to the shafts l4 and I5 and which are the main operating shafts of the control device a stub shaft 4| is provided. Gear mechanisms are provided to function as power transmitting means from one shaft to another. The structures and arrangements of the gear mechanisms are such that by rotating one shaft a plurality of shafts may be caused to rotate in different degrees or be unaffected asrequired.

As shown in Fig. 9 a rocker arm 42 pivotallz, supported at 43xextends between a gear 44 secured to shaft I5 and a gear '45 supported on shaft l4. The rocker arm 42 forms part of a power transmitting means from the shaft l5 to the shaft l4. A power transmitting means is also provided between the shaft l4 and the shaft The 4| comprising a plate gear 46 supported on shaft 1 4 and a pinion gear 41 secured to shaft 4|. By reason of the construction and arrangement of the various gear drive mechanisms and the detents provided in the control device the followin results may be attained:

1. When the shaft i5 is held against rotation and shaft I4 is rotated one complete turn, shaft 4| will be rotated a fraction of a turn and shaft l5 will not be rotated.

2. When shaft I 5 is rotated one complete turn, shaft M will be rotated a fraction of a turn and shaft 4| will not be rotated.

In an actual set-up of the control device and with the various gears and the rocker arm suitably dimensioned, constructed and arranged the following results were attained:

1. When the shaft I5 is held against rotation,

by means of its detent 2|, and shaft M is rotated one complete cyclic turn shaft 4| is rotated ninety-two one hundredths of a turn and shaft i5 is not rotated.

2. When shaft |5 is rotated one complete cyclic turn shaft 4 is rotated one-tenth of a turn and shaft 4| is not rotated.

A planetary gear drive 48 comprising a sun gear 49, paired planet gears 56 and 5| and 52 and 53 and a ring gear 54 are provided in the control device. The sun gear 49, as shown in Fig. 4, is integral with or is secured on an enlarged portion 55 of a tubular shaft 56. through the bore of which the shaft i4 may extend, the shaft [4 and the tubular shaft 56 being secured against relative rotation by means of a pin 5'? extending through a transverse aperture 58 in the tubular shaft 56 and a transverse aperture 59 .in the shaft M. The lower end 60 of'the tubular shaft 56 is dimensioned to fit into an aperture 6| formed in the center of a recessed portion 62 of a plate 63, the flange 64 of which is wider than the ring gear 54, the outside diameter of the plate 63 being equal to theoutside diameter of the ring gear 54, the teeth of the ring gear 54 being on the inside of the ring gear 54. A segment gear comprising a toothed enlargement |38 on the ring gear 54 and an overlying and apertured toothed segment plate 65, shiftable relative to the enlargement I36 against the action of a spring 66, are provided as an anti-backlash gear portion on the ring gear 54. The plate 63 is designed to rest on the gear 45 shown in Fig. 4, the gear 45 as shown in Fig. 8 having a hub portion '61 journalled in a flanged bearing 68 supported in an apertured portion of the front wall l2 of the body ll. The hub portion 61 of the gear 45 is secured by means of screws 69 to the cup-type support 25 of the detent means 20. The shaft 14 is journalled in a bearing 10 in the gear 45.

The gear 45 may rotate on the shaft l4 and is .-in mesh with an idler gear 7| rotatably supported on a bearing '62 supported on a bolt 13 mounted in the body The idler gear H is in mesh with a relatively wide pinion l4 rotatably supported on a shaft 75 mounted in the body The pinion 14 is in mesh with the toothed enlargement |38 and the toothed segment plate 65 on the ring gear 54.

The rocker arm 42 is T-shaped in form and serves as a mechanical driving means between the gear 44 secured on the shaft l5 and the gear 45 rotatably mounted on the shaft l4. One end of the body portion 16 of the rocker arm 42 terminates in an apertured, enlarged and circular end portion 'II forming the pivotally supported end of the rocker arm 42. The other end of the body portion I6 terminates in the cross-arm portion I8 carrying an attached segment plate I9 extending under the gear 44. The cross-arm portion I8 is constructed to provide an anti-backlash gear segment 80 in mesh with the gear 44, the anti-backlash gear segment 80 comprising the cross-arm portion "I8 equipped with teeth, and a second segment 8| equipped with teeth and overlying the cross-arm portion I8. The second segment BI is shiftable on and relative to the crossarm portion I8 and is provided with elongated apertures 82 accommodating mounting pins 83 mounted on the cross-arm portion I8 and extending through the second segment 8|. A spring 84 is provided to constantly urge the second segment 8| lengthwise and relative to the cross-arm portion I8 to prevent lost motion between the gear 44 and the rocker arm 42.

Secured to and overlying the body portion I6 of the rocker arm 42 is a bar 85 having an apertured enlargement 86. overlying the bar 85 is an apertured arm 81 pivotally supported at 43 and having an apertured enlargement 88. The pivotally supported end of the bar 81 has a gear portion 89 the teeth of which are in mesh with the gear 45. A spring so engaging the apertured enlargements 85 and 88 urges the bar 81 relative to the rocker arm 42 to prevent lost motion between the rocker arm parts and the gear 45.

When the shaft I5 is rotated the gear 44 pivotally moves the rocker arm 42 to rotate the gear 45 which is in driving connection with the ring gear 54 through the gear 'II, pinion I4 and segment portion I38 and plate 65 on the ring gear 54. If the shaft I5 is held against rotation the ring gear 54 and the gear 45 cannot rotate.

The sun gear 49 in the planetary gear means 48 is constructed and arranged to mesh with the planet gears 59, 5 I, 52 and 53 which are arranged in pairs and to mesh with the teeth on the inner circular part of the ring gear 54. The paired arrangement of the planet gears is clearly shown in Fig. 3 which showsone pair of the planet gears comprising the planet gears 50 and 5| supported in spaced relation. The planet gears are constructed alike and the description of one will be sufficient for an understanding of the structure of all. The planet gear 50 comprises a gear wheel portion 9| having apertured hub portions 92 and 95 extending from opposite faces of the portion 9| and defining an aperture 94. Each hub portion 92 and 93 has an annular groove 95 formed in the outer cylindrical surface to receive a hookshaped end 96 of a spring wire support 91 comprising a pair of spring wires 98 and 99 held in parallel spaced relation by a clip I00, end portions I| and I02 of which are bent around the respective spring wires 99 and 99. One end of the spring wire 98 extends into the groove 95 in the hub portion 92 of the planet gear 50 and the hook portion 96 is made to loosely embrace the hub portion 92 and so that the hub portion 92 is in effect, journalled in the hook portion 96. The other end of the spring wire 98 extends into the groove 95 in the hub portion 92 of the planet gear and has a hook portion I03 located in the groove 95 and loosely embracing the hub portion 92 of the planet gear 5|. The spring wire 99 is formed like the spring wire 98 and has hookshaped end portions I04 and I05, the hook-shaped end portion I04 loosely embracing the hub portion 93 of the planet gear 50 and the hook-shaped end portion I05 looselyembracing the hub portion 93 of the planet gear 5|, each hook-shaped end portion resting in a groove 95 in the hub portion embraced. It will be seen as shown in Fig. 3 that the planet gears 58 and 5| are held in spaced relation by the spring wires 98 and 99 and that normally the major portions of the spring wires 98 and 99 extend in straight lines from the planet gear 50 to the plant gear 5|. The planet gears 52 and 53 are constructed and mounted on spring wire members 98 and 99 in the same manner as the planet gears 50 and 5|. The distance from center to center of a pair of planet gears mounted on the spring wires 98 and 99, the diameter of the sun gear 49 and the inside diameter of the ring gear 54 are such that when the planet gears 59, 5i, 52 and 53 are set into the ring gear 54 as shown in Fig. 4 and the sun gear 49 is entered in the ring gear 54 in required position as shown in Fig. 6 the spring wire supports of the planet gears involving the spring Wires 98 and 99 are bowed slightly outward relative to the axis of the sun gear 49. The spring pressure developed in the spring wires 98 and 99 by reason of the bowing thereof helps to keep the planet gears 50, 5|, 52 and 53 in true mesh with the ring gear 54 and the sun gear 49 and ring gear 54 in the same position in regard to each other, thus eliminating backlash between them.

The plate gear 46 has a central aperture I06 to accommodate the enlarged portion 55 on the shaft portion 55 of the sun gear 49. The plate gear 46 is rotatably supported on the sun gear 49 and is equipped with spaced pins I9? and I08 diametrically disposed and extending normal to the plane of the lower face of the plate gear 46. The pins I01 and I08 are constructed to extend into the planet gears, one pin being arranged to extend into the bore of a planet gear in one pair and the other pin being arranged to extend into the bore of a planet gear of the other pair. The planet gear receiving a pin may rotate on the pin. The pin I01 may be set into the bore 94 of the planet gear 53 and the pin I08 may be set into the bore of the planet gear 5| When the planet gears are rotated while the ring gear 54 is held against rotation the planet gears will, in effect, walk around inside the ring gear 54 and cause the plate gear 46 to rotate. The plate gear 46 is in mesh with the gear 41 on the stub shaft 4| an enlarged flanged end portion I09 of which is constructed and arranged to freely fit into an aperture Ill! formed in the front wall I2 of the casing-type body II, the flange III on the stub shaft 4| being constructed and arranged to bear against a bearing surface 2 formed or provided on the wall I2 of the body II. The stub shaft 4| is arranged to extend through an aperture H3 in the cover plate I3 and an enlargement M4 on the stub shaft 4| is provided to extend into a recess I I5 in the cover plate I3.

As shown in Fig. 5 a collar or coupling MS may be secured to the shaft 4| and a gear II'I may be mounted on and secured to the tubular shaft 56, the collar H6 and the gear II'I being exterior of the cover plate I3. The gear III is in mesh with a gear ||8 mounted on a stub shaft 9 which extends through an aperture I20 in the cover plate I3 and into the body I I. The stub shaft I I9 is rotatably mounted in the front wall I2 and cover plate I3 of the casing. The gear H8 is secured by suitable means I2| to a disc I22 having notches I23 formed in its outer edge. The disc I22 may be used to drive some rotatable part exterior of the casing and not shown in the drawings. The aperture I24 in the cover plate' I3 isprovided to accommodate one end of the shaft I of the pinion I4.

As shown in Fig. 9 the shafts I4, I5 and M may serve'as or be connected to rotatable parts of electrical devices shown merely for example as being variable electrical air condensers 625, I26 and IN, the shafts I4, I5 and M serving as means to cause rotation of the rotor elements of the condensers I25, I25 and I2I, respectively.

When the detent means 2| for shaft I5 is in such condition that the slidable member 24 therein is in engagement with a stud 39 and shaft I4 is rotated shaft 4| will be rotated but to .a lesser degree than shaft I4 by reason of the operation of parts of the control device as follows and the gear ratios of the gear drives comprising the sun gear 49, the planet gears 50, 5I, 52 and 53, the ring gear 54, the plate gear 46 and the gear 47 on the shaft 4I. Rotation of the shaft i4 causes rotation of the sun gear 49 which rotates the planet gears 50, 5I, 52 and 53 and which walk around in the ring gear 54 since the ring gear 54 is held against rotation through the held shaft I5, the rocker arm 42, gear fii gear II and pinion gear I4 in mesh with the segment gear portion I38 and segment gear plate 65 on the ring gear 54. The planet gear pairs involving the planet gears 50, ill, 52 and 53 drive the plate gear 43 to rotate the gear 41 and shaft 4| since the pins I01 and I08 extend into hubs in the planet gears, pin I01 extending into the hub of a planet gear in one pair and pin I99 extending into the hub of a planet gear in the other pair.

Shaft It may be rotated to cause the ring gear 54 to rotate to change the effect of the planetary gear system with regard to the shafts I4 and 4|. When the shaft I5 is rotated gear 44 is rotated to drive the rocker arm 42. The pivotal end of the rocker arm. 42 through its gear teeth drives the gear 45 to rotate gear H which in turn rotates the pinion gear '54 to rotate the ring gear 54. Gear 45 is attached to the cup-type support 25 carrying the studs 22 one of which may be in engagement with the slidable member 24 on the detent device 20. In this case when the gear 45 is rotated the cup-type support 25 is rotated and the stud 22 thereon in engagement with the slidable member 24 rotates the slidable member 24 and the rectangular support 25 attached to the shaft I4. The shaft I4 is therefore rotated through its detent means 20 when gear 45 is rotated. The pivotal point of support 43 of the rocker arm 42 is relatively far from the gear 44 and relatively near to the gear 45 and due mainly to this fact the rotation of the shaft I4 will be small as compared with the rotation of the shaft I5. Gear 45 in rotating causes idler gear 'II to rotate and this in turn rotates the pinion I4 to cause rotation of the ring gear 54. Rotation of the shaft I4 causes rotation of the sun gear 49 in mesh with the planet gears 50, 5|, 52 and 53. If the ring gear 54' is rotating While the planet gears 59, 52 and 53 are rotating the effect of the planet gears on the plate gear 46 will be different from the effect when the ring gear 54 is stationary. The gear ratios in the planetary gear system may be such that when the ring gear 54 and the planet gears 50, 5!, 52 and 53 are rotating in a required manner the planet gears 50, 5!, 52 and 53 will not walk around in the ring gear 54 and the plate gear will not be rotated. Under this condition. the gear 41 and shaft 4| will not be rotated.

If the shafts I4, .I5.and M are in individual driving connection withthe rotors of the variable condensers I25, I26 and I21, respectively the rotors of the variable condensers will be rotated in accordance with the rotations of the'respective shafts I4, I5 and M.

As above mentioned the detent means 2| for the shaft I5 does not have the cup-type support 25, the studs 39 being mounted on a boss 40 on the wall :I 2 of the body I I A releasable holding means 38 is provided to Withdraw and hold the slidable member I28 from engagement with the studs 39. The slidable member I except for the inclusion therein of a pin I29 is constructed similar to the slidable member 24 in the detent means 20. The slidable member I28 may be retracted from a position of engagement with the studs 39 and may be latched in retracted position. A spring-loaded cam I30 and aspririg-loaded lever I3I are provided for this purpose. The spring-loaded cam I30 is V-shaped and'is pivotally supported on a pin, I32 mounted in the support 26. Around the pin. I32 2. spring 133 is supported to spring load the cam I30. Legs I34and I35 of the springloaded cam I30 extend on opposite sides of the pin I29 .on the slidable member I28 and a notch I36 is formed in the leg H4. The pin I29 may be brought into engagement with the springloaded lever I3I. When shaft I5 is rotated counter-clockwise beyond the last detent stud 39, pin I29 engages with spring-loaded lever I3I which forces pin I29 and slidable member I28 in a direction away from the studs 39, permitting spring-loaded cam I30 pivoting on pin I32 to pivotally move to bring the notch I39 on th leg I34 behind pin I29 thereby holdingslidable member 128 in an off detent position until rotated to the extreme clockwise position where spring-loaded cam I30 strikes a fixed post I39 and pivotally moves, releasing its hold on pin I29, ermitting the spring 34 tothrust the slidable member I28 to a position for engagement with the studs 39. This control device may be arranged so that when shaft I5 isrotated over all of its detent studs 33, shaft I4 with its cup-type support 25 and detent studs 22 will rotate nine-tenths of the distance between two detent studs 22. In order that the proper index may be read directly an indexing mask I31 is fastened to the cup-type support 25 so as to block out adjacent indexes.

This control device contains a ready interchangeable feature where several similar cuptype supports 25 containing different numbers of detent studs 22 may be interchanged by inserting'in required relation with its respective rocker arm 42. Maximum flexibility is obtained by changing the shaft location of the rocker arm 42 without changing the other gears in the device or the decimal relation of shaft I5 to shaft I4.

What is claimedis:

1. A control device comprising a first rotatable shaft, a second rotatable shaft, 2. third rotatable shaft, a rotatable detent means on said first shaft, a planetary gear means supported on said first shaft, said planetary gear means forming a power transmitting means between said first shaft and said third shaft and gear means comprising a rocker arm forming a power transmitting means between said second shaft. and said detent means and coo erating with said detent means to form a power transmitting means between said second shaft and said first shaft.

2. A control device comprising a first rotatable shaft, a second rotatable shaft, a third rotatable shaft, detent means'rotatablysupportedon said first shaft and having a part secured to said first shaft, a plentary gear means supported on said first shaft and forming a power transmitting means between said first shaft and said third shaft, gear means comprising a rocker arm forming a power transmitting means between said second shaft and said detent means to transmit rotations of said second shaft to said first shaft and holding means for said second shaft to prevent rotation of said second shaft at required times.

3. A control device comprising a first rotatable shaft, a second rotatable shaft, a third rotatable shaft, a sun gear secured to said first shaft, a ring gear rotatable relative to said sun gear, paired planet gears in mesh with said sun gear and said ring gear, a plate gear carried on said paired planet gears and in driving connection with said third shaft, a rocker arm in gear connection with said second shaft and said ring gear and operable as a control means between said second shaft and said ring gear, said second shaft being operable through said rocker arm to rotate said ring gear and to hold said ring gear against rotation and releasable holding means for said second shaft.

GUNTHER A. BOECK.

EDSON J. HOWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,728,834 Langley Sept. 17, 1929 1,833,235 Slocumb NOV. 24, 1931 1,939,856 Langley Dec. 19, 1933 2,016,149 Lench Oct. 1, 1935 2,288,406 Kimball June 30, 1942 

